
Gass. 
Book 






C|c Conflict -of KratJ. 



®k* ©onfti^t of ®nttlu 



A. SERMON" 



PRKV IIF.D IX THE 



FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 



CAMDEN, N. J., 



APRIL SO, 1865, 



REV. V. D. REED, I). I) 




CAMDEN, N. J. : 

PRINTED BY S. CHEW, AT THE OFFICE OF THE " WEST JERSEY PRESS. 

1865. 



Camden, May 1st, 18C5. 
Rev. V. P. Reed, D. D. 

Rev. and Dear Sir : — The members of your congregation, 
with many others of your fellow-citizens, listened with great pleasure and profit to the 
sermons, which you delivered on yesterday morning and evening. 

The desire has been expressed, with great unanimity, that those discourses shall 
be published in pamphlet. 

The doctrines and principles of which they treat, are eminently practical, appro- 
priate, and satisfactory ; and so fully in accordance with the wants and demands of 
this eventful period of our country's history, that greater publicity will but be 
productive of greater good. 

w c respectfully solicit, therefore, the manuscripts of said discourses. 



P C. BRINCK, 

Thos. C. Knight, 
Jno. A. Caldwell, 
M. Newkirk, 
Geo. W. Carpenter, 
J. D. Reinboth, 
S. Chew, 

James M. Scovel, 
J. C. De La Cour, 
Henry Vanuxen. 
C A. Sparks, 



Very Truly, Yours, 

G. W. N. Custis, 
Wm. Few Smith, 
John Airman, 
T. M. K. Lee, 
B. F. Archer, 
Robt. B. Potts, 
J. V. Schenck, 
Jas. H. Stevens. 
Maurice Browning, 
R. S. Curtis, 
Wm. Hart. 



Camden, May 2J, 18G5. 
Gentlemen : 

The discourses, you ask for publication, are so connected that they 
can readily be made one. I have therefore combined the two — leaving out considerable 
portions, which though deemed important in the delivery, are not essential to the 
main design. 

The manuscript so abridge 1 ., is submitted to you, with the earnest prayer, that if 
published, it may subserve the cause of truth and good citizenship. 



Very respectfully yours, 



To Messrs. P. C Brinck, 

G. W. N. Custis, 

Thos. C. Knight, and others. 



V. D. REED 



%\t Conflict of Sttttlj. 












MATTHE \V X: 34. 

"Think not that I am come to send Peace on Earth: 

I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD." 

Jesus Christ is called the Prince of peace. His advent 
to our world was heralded, by a multitude of the heavenly 
host, proclaiming, "On earth peace, good-will to men." 
Wherever the principles of the gospel prevail, and exert 
their appropriate influence, animosities, divisions, strifes, 
hatred, variance, wars cease, and their opposites prevail, 
unity, brotherly kindness, charity, peace, good will to all. 
How then could the Savior say that he came to send, not 
■peace, but a sword? To understand this subject aright, 
it must be remembered that men are by nature in a 
state of alienation from God! Satan, the prince of 
darkness, is god of this world. He rules in the hearts of 
unbelieving men, leading them captive at his will. 

The kingdom of Christ is in direct antagonism to his 
rule. The setting up of that kingdom in the world. 



then arily elicit opposition, awaken deadly 

hatred and intense animosity. All the powers of darkness 
will be arrayed in opposition to ir. The men of this 
world will o] >n,frown upon the prevalence 

of its principles and tb I of its power. And as 

Christiana musl adh i th ir religion and faithfully 

maintain the truth they will be brought into collision with 

unbelieving world. There will be serious conflii 
opinion, perhaps open assaults bythe enemies of the truth, 
and cruel persecution w ho adhere to the kingdom 

I The doctrines of Christianity are entirely 

opp< the opinions generally held, about 

Supreme Being, our relations to him and the mode in 
which his favor can be secured. On the other hand the 
precepts of the gospel are at war with the customs of 
sty. The prevalence of those precepts necessarily 
iuii<t produce new forms of social life. 

I ristianity strikes at the root of all iniquity. It aims 

ils iii all departments of society, and all tin- 

relations of life. Hence it is revolutionary in its charai 

(Jnregenerate men do not like t<> retain <i<>d in their 

knowledge. They have no love for moral rectitude or 

holiness; and while wry religious oftentimes, their 

religion i- of a L r i - «'— and debasing character. Every form 

of superstition is embraced, while God in histrue relations 

and claims i- rejected. The understanding is biased bo 

thai tin' truth is not received. The conscience is perverted 

and are opposed to godliness. The judgment 

ftrped, and it- decisions arc incorrect. The heart is in 

. and all the acta and exercises of the bouI 

ti uth. 

Prejudic exerts a proa I influence upon the mind, and 



nothing is more powerful than religious prejudices. If 
their religion has any hold upon them, men will contend 
with an earnestness and tenacity which they show in 
nothing else. 

The followers of Christ dare not give up their principles, 
for if their religion is anything to them it is everything. 
The sacrifice of the truth or a perversion of the truth 
subjects them to the displeasure of the God of truth. The 
loss of worldly advantages, property, honors, emoluments, 
personal liberty, or even life itself, involves only a 
temporal calamity, while the sacrifice of their religious 
principles involves the loss of their souls. Poverty, 
shame, famine, torture, the prison, the scaffold, can he 
calmly met by the soul that is at peace with God, and has 
in prospect the blessedness of heaven. 

Here it should be remembered, that the human mind, 
under most favorable circumstances, is liable to imbibe a 
mixture of error with the truth. And such is the 
weakness of human nature — in them that are but partial ly 
sanctified, that error is maintained often with as great 
tenacity and earnestness as truth. Men are partial to 
their own opinions and often substitute these for the 
teachings of God's word, so that while ostensibly defending 
the truth, they are really defending their own creeds and 
dogmas. A false system of religion is maintained with 
greater zeal than the true. Corrupt forms of Christianity 
are adhered to and defended with more determination 
than the pure religion of Jesus. In this way we can 
account for the strife and animosities, the bitter conflicts 
and contentions that have prevailed among those advo- 
cating the same pure and peace-speaking precepts. The 
history of the church is full of the conflicts of opinion. 



8 

Sometimes these conflicts take the form of theological 
controversy. Where a spirit of charity prevails such 
controversies resull in the elucidation of truth and the 
establishment of the church upon a sure foundation. 
Where, as is frequently the case, bitterness, selfish ambition 
and party animosity prevail, the resull is wide separation, 
alienation of feeling, sometimes violent bickerings or opeu 
warfare The truth should bespoken in loveaud received 
in love; and where Christians are compelled to differ it 
should be in the exercise of a large hearted liberal charity. 

Error has had its martyrs as well as truth, but the 
martyrs of error have broken loose from the safe moorings 
in whh-h God has placed the human soul, and been 
drifted by the winds of fancy, prejudice, or selfish 
ambition, upon the dark sea of unbelief till they have 
been given over to strong delusions to believe a lie. 

Opposition to the truth frequently takes the form oi 
hatred to its advocates. Men are not satisfied with stoutly 

defending their opinions, they must put down and over- 
whelm their opponents. Error knows its weakness, is 
cowardly and treacherous and when unable to maintain 
it- ground on the field of fair discussion covers its 
discomfiture by an onslaught upon its opponents and 
vent- its spite in malicious attacks upon those with whom 
it could not compete in honorable warfare. Hence the dir< 
nits and hitter persecutions which have been waged 
upon i he advocates of truth. And the fearful conflicts, tin 
long ami bloody wars, which from time to time have 
characterised the progress of truth in the world. 

■ 'I'iii ill crushed i" earth will rise again,] 
i arc ben 

Tin- opposition to the truth was strikingly manifested 
during tie' ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. 



9 

He assailed the errors and sins of those occupying the 
highest positions in society as well as in the lower walks 
of life, " Woe, unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 
ye have made the word of God of none effect by your 
traditions. Woe unto you lawyers, ye lade men with 
heavy burdens and grievances to be borne." 

This fidelity in opposing error and wickedness which 
characterized his entire ministry subjected him to 
unrelenting hate and bitter persecution. While the multi- 
tude hung upon his lips, were awed by his miracles or 
experienced the beneficent workings of* his power, tin- 
rulers, Pharisees and men of high social position were 
violently opposed to him, maligned and evil entreated 
him, and finally secured his barbarous crucifixion. He 
was charged with seditious assumptions and political 
designs. " We found this fellow perverting the nation 
and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he 
himself, is Christ a king.'' And when Pilate desired to 
release him they demanded his crucifixion, for political 
reasons. " If thou let this man go thou art not Ca?sar"s 
friend; whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh 
against Csesar."' 

When the Apostles labored in fulfillment of their 
mission to preach Christ to the world, their labors excited 
intense opposition. The chief priests and rulers imprisoned 
and strictly charged them not to teach or preach in the 
name of Jesus. Thus they were brought into direct 
collision with the civil authorities. They must either give 
up their heaven appointed work or they must be prepared 
for opposition, conflict and death. They decided — how 
could the votaries of truth decide otherwise — they decided. 
" we ouo;ht to obev God rather than men." Hence their 



10 

tion, tlic hunting of them by their enemies, sub- 
jecting them to imprisonment and death. Herod, the 
governor of Judea, stretched forth hie hand to vex the 
church. He put James to deatn, and because he perceived 
that it pleased tne Jews he took Pi >. The Jews 

in their opposition to the Apostles, were impelled, by 
hatred to the truth, and Herod, in his bloody efforts to 
gratify them was actuated by motives of personal aggran - 
dizemenl or political ambition. So in repeated instac 
the apostles were charged with being disturbers of society. 
•'These that have turned the world up side down have 
come hither also," " We have found this man a pestilent 
fellow, a move]' of .-edition among all the dew- throughout 
the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the KTazarii 
Sometimes it is said, Jesus Christ and his apostles did not 
meddle with civil or political affairs. The} never preached 
politics. Well, whetherthey did or not, it is certain they were 
charged with doing it: and it is likewise certain that they 
denounce error in every form and sin in whomsoever it is 
found. And their preaching was mighty through Cod to 
pull down the strongholds of error. The gospel did 
revolutionize society. The frame work of the social 
irganization being rotten, these wise master builders of the 

temple of God swept away that structure, and wherever 

the gospel prevailed, society in ad its phases was utterly 

ehanged. We owe now all that we enjoy of true liberty and 

■ »cial excellence, to the gospel. 

In the early period of the church's bistory, Christianity 
came in collision with the various forms of superstition, 
pagani m and irreligion ; and a- these constituted a very 
importanl pari of 'he social fabric, there must necessarily 
l>e greal revolutions in gcrtimenl and an entire change in 



11 

the social organization. Christianity too came in collision 
with the systems of philosophy that prevailed, and theii 
were violent controversies in consequence. An important 
part of the early history of the church is made up of 
controversy with error. And these controversies have 
been necessary to preserve the truth in its purity, to save 
the church from corruption and ultimate destruction, from 
causes within itself. 

The history of different nations is full of conflicts very 
severe and bloody, in which the religious element, has 
sometimes been strangely predominant. In many instances 
the church has been too intimately blended with the state, 
and any conflict agitating the one would necessarily 
convulse the other. And in many instances where there 
was not this alliance, religious truth has been deeply 
involved. You are all familiar with the conflicts of truth, 
during the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century. Europe 
was convulsed, and every nation felt the consequence 
when a poor Monk from the monastery, at Wittemberg, 
published to the world, the truths of the gospel; proclaimed 
salvation free to all who would search for themselves, the 
pure word of Cod; attacked the time-honored practice- of 
ecclesiastical tyranny, and with the simple weapons of 
gospel truth, battered down the strongholds of superstition, 
and broke the chains of ecclesiastical vassalage, which had 
held the nations in bondage. You know the conflicts 
which ensued. Princes and warriors, kingdoms and 
principalities were arrayed in deadly strife. The Pope, 
and the Emperor in vain, combined their powers, to resist 
the onward progress of the truth. Conflicts of opinion 
about religious truth, shook the kingdoms, overthrew 
dynasties, divided families, arrayed relatives and former 



12 

friends in most deadly hostility, and changed entirely, the 

:il and social aspects <»i' tin- nations. Read the history 

England, especially from the time of Henry VIII. to 

.-iuii of William and Mary. See the struggles between 
arbitrary power and ecclesiastical tyranny od the one band, 
and tli* advocates of an open Bible, a free church and a 
free government, on the other. Those struggles were 
i ecessan . not only for the preservation of pure religion to 
the nation but for the establishment, of the government, 
upon a firm basis of constitutional liberty; bo that the 

irian Eume, who was no friend of the gospel, has 
recorded histestimony that, to the Puritans more than any 
other class of persons, England owes all of liberty and 
>nstitutional rights she possesses. And a later historian 
speaking of the revolutions that disturbed Europe, in l v ' v . 
from which England escaped, said, " It is because we had 
& preserving revolution in the Seventeenth Century that we 
have not had a destroying revolution in the Nineteenth. 
Forthe authority of law, for the security of property, for 
the peace of our streets, the happiness of our, homes, our 
gratitudi i- due under [lim, who raises and pulls down 
nation- al his pleasure, to the long parliament, the 
conventi< m, and William ^\' < >rangi ." 

Look al the history of France, the terrible persecutions 
of the Huguenots, the wholesale murder, and punishment 
of the best citizens, thai the truth mighl be overthrown, 
and th • aspirations of her noblesl boiis for true liberty 
mighl be crushed. And when thegospel was rejected and 
its adh< rents exiled, see whal woe- came upon the nation. 
what conflicts from time to time raged ; and though now 
Franci - al peace, il is the peace of despotic rule, thai al 
any thin ma} be changed into a political tempest, when the 



13 

grasp of the despot is broken. Read the history of the 
Walt lenses. See their martyr struggles to maintain the 
truth, and resist oppression, when all around bowed to the 
Man of sin. Look at Switzerland in the time of Zwingle 
and Calvin. Turn over the pages of Motley. Witness the 
long and bloody struggles of the adherents of truth and 
freedom, in the Netherlands. See the most powerful 
monarch then reigning using all his resources, employing 
his ablest generals, and most artful ministers, to overthrow 
the truth and fasten the chains of ecclesiastical tyranny, 
upon the Xetherlanders. See the noble, heroic course of 
William the Silent; under circumstances the most 
disheartening and appalling, in face of reverses, that 
• •rushed the hopes of others, steadily going forward, 
impelled by this one purpose to secure to his people, liberty 
and religious toleration; till as the sun of prosperity was 
just rising upon his country, he was laid low by the dagger 
of an assassin. Dwell upon the details of that bloody 
struggle, the terrible enormities perpetrated, under the 
sacred garb of religion, the horrors of the siege of Leyden, 
The sack of Antwerp, the sack of Harlem, the terrible acts 
of the Blood Council, the cruel atrocities of Alva, and Don 
John, and Alexander of Parma; the first of whom boasted 
that during the six years of his administration he had 
executed under his own hand 18,600 persons, besides the 
immense numbers who perished by siege, battle and terrible 
slaughter. Every conceivable mode of torture was practiced , 
and the cord, the axe, the stake, the dungeon, knew no rest. 
See what men have endured for the truth. What coniiirT-; 
have been occasioned, by the efforts of bigots and tyrants 
to overthrow the faithful adherents of the gDspel. See 
how the most sabred ties have been suudered. The most 



14 

intimate relationships broken up, and the most fearful 
conflicts, have been waged, by those who were naturally 
bound together by most endearing bonds. 

Look atour own country ; see violent conflicts of opinion, 
culminating in a conflicl of arm-, and the land deluged in 
blood. See families divided, brothers arrayed against 
brothers, fathers against sons, those who had been ass< »ciated 

>unsel, in office, in the various pursuits of life, who had 
enjoyed the same privileges, were united in the same 
church, and had been at the same communion table, 
opposing each other in deadly si rile. Why? Because a 
few unprincipled men, who, could not rule the nation. 
apon principles which if allowed to prevail, would have 
royed all true freedom, induced the South to attempt 
tl e dangerous experiment, of destroyingthe nation that on 

' <i theymight establish one, that in the face of ( Jhristian 
civilization, dared to Haunt the absurd and wicked si lecism? 

national freedom i- to be based upon the bondage ot 
a class. And good men. have been so strangely deluded. 

they could pray for the success of this wickedness, and 
1 retend that the Bible I that it ought to succeed. 

God be praised, — Letevery friend < if truth and righteousness 
iut the land, join in the hallelujah* — God be 
prais this wickedness has been rebuked; and Be 

who can make the wrath of man to praise him, will over- 
rule this fearful crime, to strike the chains from the limbs 
of the captive, and lei the oppressed go free. 

Some bave mourned that we were living in such 

Lblous times. Bui it is no new thing. The conflict 

truth with error has been going forward, ever since the 

first li ■ was uttered in Paradise. The powers i>f darkness 

have their day, and labor to overthrow the kingdom of Christ. 



15 

It is what the Saviour declared, should result from the 
prevalence of his gospel. But the truth shall prevail. 
The powers of hell shall be overthrown and every species 
of wickedness shall receive its merited retribution. Our 
only anxiety should be, to be faithful to our duty in this 
conflict. 

Xo nation that performs an important part in 
the history of the world, escapes severe conflct. Such 
conflicts are like the storms that purity the atmosphere, 
and save the land from pestilence. There are some men 
whose patriotism only glows in the sunshine. So there arc 
some Christians that are terrified at the dust and smoke of 
strife. They will relinquish the truth rather than their 
own peace and comfort. They will go with the multitude 
and be borne along with the current. Such Christians if 
they had lived in the martyr age, never would have been 
burned. And if they had lived in the days of Christ, they 
might have joined in the cry, " Away with him. Crucify 
him." In all things we are to retain the truth of the 
gospel, " which if we lose," in the words of Martin Luther, 
" then do we also lose G-od, Christ, all the promises, faith, 
righteousness and everlasting life." 

All truths are not essential to Christianity. Yet no 
truth can be neglected with safety. All duties are not 
equally important. Yet no duty can be neglected without 
sin. It is especially important that we as a Christian 
people see clearly, and adhere faithfully to the truth 
involved in the present national conflict. True this is not 
strictly speaking, a religious war, a conflict for the 
principles of vital Christianity. Yet it is very nearly 
allied to such a conflict. It is a contest for some of the 
most sacred principles of Christianity, which concern man 



16 

as an inhabitant of earth: for the application of Bible 
teachings in reference to human governments, and the 
prevalence of gospel principles in the treatment of a ] 
classes of men. It is a conflid in which gospel truth is 
involved ; if not the existence of tin- Church, in this country, 
the successful prosecution of it- heaven-appointed work. 
See how the Leaders of this rebellion have been anxious to 
secure the sanctions of religion, have appealed to the 
religious feelings and prejudices of the South; and Christian 
linn, have not only prayed, that the rebellion might succeed, 
Imt have taught that the Bible sanctions some of the 
greatesl wrongs that have ever been perpetrated in civilized 
society. Not until Christian ministers took this ground, 
and labored to maintain it on Bible principles, did the 
political Leaders, advocate a rupture with the nation;!! 
government. A.nd some who are not with t lie South, have, 
unconsciously and undesignedly, or knowingly ami 
intentionally countenanced this wickedness, this perversion 
of gospel truth. Under these circumstances have Christians 
and men who would be governed by Christian principle 
nothing to do? Ought the pulpit to he silent'.'' When 
already more than a million of men Liave been sacrificed 
upon tie- altar of treason, when the interests of millions 
more, for generations to come, arc involved in the right 
settlement of our national difficulties, when some <>; 
the fundamental principles of Clmstian ethic-, are openly 
impugned, and the teachings of the gospel an' in dai 
of being set at nought, can Christian ministers remain 
silent without Bin? Ought the ambassadors of the God 
<>f truth to hold their peace, because some forsooth, will 
civ. " You must not meddle with politi Very well. 

Hut politicians must not meddle with u>: tell us whei 



17 

speak and when to be silent. We are here for the defence 
of the truth, to denounce sin, in every form. And we 
say on the authority of God's word, if you are a citizen 
of this country, loyalty to the government of the United 
States is just as truly a duty, as loyalty to Jesus Christ. 
As in reference to himself he declared, " He that is not 
with me is against me," so if not the avowed friend you 
are an enemy to the government. Christian prineiple 
requires you to come out boldly on the side of law, and 
good government, and the rights of the oppressed. 
Some think politics and religion, should be entirely 
separate. But if you cannot carry Christian principles 
into your politics you should give up your politics. 

tk Can ye not discern the signs of the times." That man 
must be blind indeed, who cannot see the providence of God 
in this conflict. The war might have been terminated 
long ere this. It would have been terminated, if the 
counsels of men had prevailed. But there were important 
ends to be attained and important principles of the divine 
government to be vindicated. And again, and again. 
God has disappointed our expectations, showing us that 
we must cease our dependence on men, and faithfully do 
his will, in this conflict. Now, when we were rejoicing in 
the prospect of a speedy termination of the war, he 
who was more than ever confided in, and honored, as the 
instrument of leading the nation out of the wilderness, 
is suddenly removed. Why was this permitted ? We 
honor our late lamented President, for his noble generosity, 
his anxiety for peace, and the cessation of all bloodshed : 
for his kind treatment of the enemies of the nation. One 
of the last acts of his life, we are told, was an act of clemency 
towards two leading rebels. We rejoice that history will 



18 

not record against him one act of unnecessary severity, 
or Belfish cruelly. But he knew not, perhaps, as none of 

us appreciated in its full extent, the foul wickedness which 
has animated the Southern rebellion. It was not sate. 
Grod saw it was not safe, to allow this greal crime t i 
unpunished. The serpent was strangled hut not crushed, 
and it must he permitted in it- death-thro< 8, to strike its 
envenomed fang into the head of the nation, in order 
thai the nation who was assailed in the person of its head, 
might he aroused, to the necessity of an utter crushing oi 
the monster. We all desired peace in the shortest time 
and easiest way. But God would not allow a compromise 
with iniquity, or the relinquishment of fundamental 
principles of good government 

Providence is teaching us that three things must !"• 
clearly understood, and maintained in tin- settlement of 
our national conflict. Any settlement thai i> not based 
upon these, we think, will not secure the divine 
approval or promote the permanent prosperity of the 
nation. 

I. The first is the sacredness ^i' law. and the divine 
authority of government; our national government. — 
The divine authority of government is a very different 
doctrine from the divine right of kings, or .it' a republic, 
"!• any other form of government. The form of govern- 
inent and the methods of its administration are to he 
de.i.fd by men. But none are at liberty to reject all 
government, or t<> resist the authority of a regularly 
constituted government, administered without tyranny <>v 
oppression. Loose views upon thissubjeel have prevailed 

I rtenaively in this country. Because the people have 

bo much to do with government, the choice of ruler-, ami 



19 

determining the course of rulers, many fancy governmental 
authority emanates from them. This is a pernicious error, 
and the step is short from it, to the opinion that if 
government is not constituted, or administered, according 
to their views or wishes, they have a right to resist the 
government. If authority emanates from them and they 
do not like its exercise they may renounce that authority. 
If the laws do not suit them they may he disregarded. 

The will of God is the source of all authority in 
government. This is true in the family, in the state, in the 
church, and in the divine administration. Take the first 
form of government that of the family. God has clothed 
parents with authority, and disobedience of parents is 
disobedience to God. So in the state " the powers that 
he are ordained of God," and resistance to a regularly 
constituted government, administered without oppression, 
is resistance to the authority of God. The violation of 
law is not only a crime against the state, it is a sin against 
God. And although the civil magistrate is not to execute 
the divine vengeance, he is to punish, not merely as a matter 
of policy, or safety to the state, hut because the violation of 
law is sin and ought to be punished. Not only are they 
guilty of sin who resist the laws, but they also who openly, 
or secretly aid, countenance, or sympathize with, resistance 
of lawful authority. It is said a man has a right to his 
opinion and should not be molested for opinion sake. He 
has a right to toleration, provided his opinions though 
erroneous, are not pernicious or injurious to society. No 
man however, has a right to an erroneous opinion, 
especially if that opinion is injurious to his fellow men. 
He sins against God and his own soul if he indulges it. 
He sins against God and society if he promulgates it. 



20 

And it is the duty of all Christian men, and good citizens, 
to uphold by their opinions as well as acts, the sacredness 
of law, and the divine authority of eovernment. 

Let us make a personal application of your doctrine. 
Your neighbor thinks you are a had man, dishonest, cruel, 
;i thief, a murderer. You say he has a right to liis opinion. 
Bu1 he promulgates it. He says publicly, you ought not 
to live in good society, and any one that kills you will do 
society a favor. Do you allow him this freedom of opinion 
and speech? Do you not arraign him for slander ? And 
if you are murdered by an assassin, is lie not justly 
condemned as an accomplice. The application is easy. 
Many have said, the government Avas oppressive and ought 
to he resisted. The late head of the government was a 
tyrant and ought not to live. Yet now, some of these 
men are loud in their praise of the late Presidenl and put 
on the signs of mourning for his loss. Hither their 
present course is shameful hypocrisy or their former 
sayings were a base slander. In either case ought they 
not t<> repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance 2 
Did not their opinions, freely expressed, nerve the 
assassin's arm ; and are they not, in a certain >eiise 
partakers of his sin ? Those who rebel against a righteous 
government, are guilty not only of a political, but a moral 
wrong. And those who by word or act countenance such 
rebellion, are partakers of their evil deeds. We arraign 
all such, nol before the far of partisan judgment, hut 
before the tribunal of inspired truth, and charge them 
with -mi againsl the Author of all government; with 
aiming to sel at naughl an ordinance of heaven, appointed 
to aubsen e the besl interests ^<\' men. 

[f it is wrong to withold allegiance to God, i1 is like- 
w ise wrong to resisl the powers that are ordained of God. 



21 

It is just as truly a siu to break the fifth commandment, 
as the first. " By father and mother in the fifth command- 
ment, are meant not only natural parents, but all superiors 
in age and gifts, and especially such as by God's ordinance are 
over us in places of authority." We commend this 
subject to the careful and prayerful consideration of those 
Christian men who have either in word or thought 
approved of the Southern Rebellion, or who have either 
openly or covertly, designedly or unintentionally; either 
from mistaken views of duty, or partisan motives, 
attempted to embarrass the government, in its efforts to 
overthrow this great wickedness. Especially now that it 
has been decided at the ballot box and by the military 
power, that the government shall be sustained, can any 
further opposition be prompted by aught, but the spirit of 
faction and diabolical strife. 

II. If what has been said is correct, it follows that crimes 
against the government, should be punished. The 
sword is put into the hands of the civil magistrate, for the 
punishment of evil-doers. An evil-doer, here, is one 
who breaks the laws, or resists governmental authority. 
He is to be punished, because he has done wrong. — 
jSTot merely because good policy, the safety of the state, 
and the good of society require it, but because it is an 
offence and deserves punishment. 

Treason, " making war against the government or 
giving aid and comfort to its enemies," is regarded as the 
highest crime that can be committed against civil society. 
As such it deserves a very severe penalty. If the ruffian, 
who murders an individual, thereby carrying desolation 
and suffering to a single family, expiates as he ought, his 
crime upon the scaffold, should any thing less be meted 



±2 

out to those, who combine their malice and selfish 
ambition, to strike a death blow at the heart of the 
aation, plunge the country into a terrible war, cause the 
destruction of hundreds of thousands of lives, and fill the 
whole land with mourning and woe? We would, by no 
means, encourage the spirit which, since the assassination 
. :' the President, there is danger, may gain the mastery 
over loyal hearts, that all thought of mercy should be laid 
aside, and deadly vengeance with relentless power, 
should fall upon the authors of our national troubles.* 
But we assert the teachings of Grod's word, in reference to 
the punishment of crime. The enlightened Christian 
sentiment of the community demands, that the leaders of 

rebellion should he punished. First, because they 
deserve punishment. Their crime is immensurably greater, 
than that of an ordinary felon, as the consequences of 
their acts are wide-spread and beyond computation. 
5 ondly, because there is no safety to the government if 
such crimes arc unpunished. A bounty is placed upon 
treason. And a fewyears hence, or whenever unprincipled 
may choose, we may be afflicted with the same 

onal calamities. The multitude of the Southern 
I eople, were deluded, ami have been sufficiently punished. 
B I let simple justice, as G-od himself has decreed, he 
meted out to those who arc the responsible authors o\' 
this wickedm 

Punishmenl should he inflicted lawfullv. There should 



1 1 ml the author endeavored to 

i sad event by dlreotlng lh< nor of 

i, and to the fearful nature of thoee ilnswhlob Ailed the land with mourning.— 
purpuaely abstained from aful .till the InV 

I bj the President's death, and the passage of the oorpse through our ml da I 

»d, tbat sober oonvtotlo Igbt take the plaoeofmomei • i i 

can calm's oontein] 






23 

be no mobs or vigilance committees, or taking the law into 
their own bands, by individuals or bodies of men. 

III. The Providence of God is plainly teaching, that the 
institution of slavery in this country must be abolished. 
As you are aware, I hold no extreme views on the subject 
of slavery — have never countenanced, but opposed, violent 
and unconstitutional efforts to rid the country of the evil. 
While I, who have always lived in a free state, would on no 
account hold slaves, there are circumstances where it may 
not only be right, but a duty, for a christian to hold the 
relation of master, until the slaves are qualified for, and 
ran enjoy the benefits of freedom. But slavery as it has 
existed in this country, is an evil, an unmitigated evil, 
contrary to the spirit of the gospel, the teachings of 
Jesus Christ, destructive of the best interest of the slave 
and equally injurious, in a moral point of view to the 
master. While five years ago, very few at the north 
Avould have approved of any attempt to interfere with 
what was emphatically a southern institution, for the 
circumstances of which, and all the evils of which, the 
South alone was responsible, God is wiser than men. 
He has made use of the wickedness of the slaveholders 
themselves, to prepare the way for an entire removal of 
the evil. And now the responsibility for the continuance 
of this evil is thrown upon us. The people of the whole 
land are to decide, in the method pointed out by the con- 
stitution whether slavery shall be permitted still to 
disgrace our country, and in the face of our claim 
to give freedom to all, we will still allow the perpetual 
enslavement of a particular class. "With this question 
brought home to us, no christian can remain silent or 
inactive without guilt. It is a question which all must 



24 

meet. Whatever our views of the mode in which the 
question is forced upon as, we cannot turn it aside with 
indifference. If we adopt an erroneous opinion, and fail 
to appreciate our responsibility in reference to the subject, 
if by our opposition or supineness, or indifference, or 
silence, we retard the progress of principles of true liberty, 
as a part of the nation, we not only fail to understand 
our duty, bul subject ourselves to the righteous displea- 
sure of the God of Nations. "Can ye not discern the 
signs of the times ?" Look at the developments of the 
pu-t four years. See Low ( rod has kept back our armies — 
held in cheek both rulers and people, that there could be 
no cessation of hostilities, until Loth rulers and people 
have been brought to the determination, that there shall 
be no compromise with the abettors of human bondage. 
lias not the whole land been made to mourn because of 
this war, inaugurated in the interest of slavery ; a war 
brought upon the country for the avowed purpose of 
perpetuating the bondage of the African race? Have 
not hundreds of thousands of our citizens perished, every 
community and almost every family been made to mourn? 
And do we not hear the sroice of God, as plainly as in the 
solemn utterances to Egypt's haughty king in the terrible 
plagues that scourged his land — " Le1 this people go." 
Have not the votes of the American people by a majority 
of hundreds of thousands, decided that there is to be no 
compromise with treason, and no cessation of hostilities 
till slavery which caused the war is overthrown? And 
has not the God of battles given success to our armies 
upon this principle? Until even prominent Rebel 
leaders, have been forced to acknowledge thai the 
amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery, is a 






25 

political necessity, and the south must submit to it. And 
now if we fail to do thoroughly, the work of God, if we 
fail to make an utter end of this abomination, may we 
not expect, ought we not to expect, the judgments 
reserved in God's magazine of wrath ; that a worse than 
Egypt's last plague may come upon us ? And when the 
cry of wailing comes up from all parts of the laud, 
because the first-born in every family is slain, and all our 
hopes crushed, then we will obey the voice of Jehovah. 

Here let me quote the words of President Lincoln, 
uttered in his inaugural address on the Fourth of March, 
last. kt Fondly do w T e hope, fervently do we pray, that 
this mighty scourge of war may soon pass away. Yet if 
God wills that it continues till all the wealth piled by the 
bondmen's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited 
toil be sunk, and until every drop of blood, drawn with 
the lash, be paid with another drawn with the sword, as 
was said three thousand years ago, so now must be said. 
"The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous 
altogether." 

It is said there is no danger. The question is already 
settled. Slavery is already dead, past the possibility of 
resurrection. We would gladly believe it. But what 
was the state of feeling three weeks ago ? Such was the 
universal desire for peace, that some would have been 
ready to overlook all the sins of the South, and welcome 
back to their privileges and rights and even to their 
places in the councils of the nation, those who for years 
have sought its destruction, to perpetuate slavery. God 
saw it necessary to check the spirit of unholy fraternizing 
with the abettors of the worst forms of social and political 
-•rimes. He laid the head of the nation low, that we 



2(3 

might 3top and see whither we were tending. God 
"rant that other victims may not be accessary. 

I- there no danger, when very many of our citizens are 
liable to be swayed from principle, by regard for present 
or persona] interest: And when many more are in a 
state of indifference or opposition to the prevalence of 
right principle ? 

Is it said that this discussion is out of place. Here 
there are no disloyalists or owners of slaves. I reply. 
there is no part of the land from Maine to California. 
where, at the present time, such utterances are out of 
place. And there is no part o\' the country, where the 
truth should be spoken boldly, and persistent efforts made 
to bring all to comprehend these great moral principles 
more than in thi* good State of New Jersey : a state that 
has had a glorious history: whose soil was drenched with 
the blood of Revolutionary heroes \ that has furnished a 
noble list of champions for freedom, truth and righteous- 
ness, in the various civil pursuits: tens of thousands 
of whose sons have testified their devotion to freedom 
and good government, by shedding their blood in this 
war : but a state that now holds the unenviable position oi 
trying to stay the onward march of freedom, and resist 
the >nre indications of God's will. A state, whose recent 
record upon this subject, confers little honor upon her 
citizens. We may well blush and hang our head- to 
think that we belong to a state, which though surrounded 
with the lights of freedom, when every lice Btate that has 
spoken, has given an unequivocal testimony, and some 
that had been cursed with slavery have risen and tin-own 
c deadly incubus, and when even southern leaders, 
confess that tin' contest i- fairlv decided against them, ha- 






'li 



said by the recent act of its legislature, "let the slave 
continue to wear his chains! Let the proud master 
fatten and grow rich on the toil and blood of the 
oppressed ! Let the evil continue to curse the land, and 
worse contests than those we have witnessed, be entailed 
upon our children and our children's children ! Let the 
fearful judgments of a sin-avenging God be still further 
provoked!- Yet we are told that, we as christian 
teachers, must be silent on this subject. Were we silent, 
the very dust of the battle fields of Monmouth, Princeton 
and Trenton, would cry out against us. Were we silent, 
the patriot dead would hardly remain quiet m their 
graves; the bones of our gallant brothers and sons, 
sleeping on soil cursed with slavery and laid there m the 
fearful conflict of slavery with freedom, would rise up to 
rebuke us. Nay, were we silent, we could hardly, with 
a dear conscience, tread the streets of this city, almost 
everv house in which has so recently, been hung m the 
dark drapery of woe, because of a fearful crime, perpe- 
trated by the foul spirit of slavery. Were we silent we 
could hardly lie down at night with the christian's confi- 
dence and the christian's hope, lest the judgments ot a 
holy God might come upon the house of the faithless 
prophet, who saw the sword coming upon the people but 

withheld the warning.* 

No, no, we must give our testimony against this wrong. 
We call upon every right minded citizen of whatever 
creed, party or interest, we call especially upon every 
christian man and woman, to remove the foul stain upon 
our reputation, and rest not till New Jersey takes her 



*Ezctie1,33: 6. 



28 

place, the place which of right belongs toher,in the front 
rank of the championship of freedom ; till our legislators 
perform faithfully the work, which justice, humanity, 
true political wisdom, christian consistency, the teachings 
of the gospel, and the solemn voice of God"s provide 
imperatively demand. 

How can a christian people longer tolerate slavery. It 
degrades the slave, but worse than this, it brutalizes the 
master, li gives to unprincipled men. unlimited control 
over the person, the labor, the conduct, the religious 
rights and privileges, the bodies and souls of men. It 
engenders a spirit of imperiousness and Bavage barbarism, 
and therefore unfits slaveholders for the position of quiet 
law-abiding citizens. Those educated under its influences 
can brookno restraint ; arc reckless, law-defying, following 
uo guide bul their own capricious will. While making 
lond pretensions to honor, they show an utter disregard 
of honor, ami even of the sanctity of solemn oaths. 

The spirit engendered by slavery, turned our once 
bappy country into an arena of terrible conflict It has 
conducted the war upon principles of atrocity and 
barbarity, at which every righl minded man musl shudder. 
It has deliberately starved and butchered in cold blood, 
prisoners of war : has subjected to indescribable tortures, 
men whose only fault was, that they were true to their 
country, t<» liberty and to God. It has perverted the 
judgments and debased the principles of Christian men, 
and countenanced savage wickedness tinder the sacred 
garb of religion. It has plotted in secret the mosl fearful 
crimes. By the stealthy use of the torch, the dagger and 
the bullet, in wholesale conflagration and butchery of 
(Sending citizens, it show- it- deadly hatred to all 









29 

free institutions. It has nourished traitors, assassins, 
fiends, in the very heart of the government. It lias 
turned away from the noble advances of generosity, good 
will and christian charity, and in its death struggle aimed 
to plunge the nation into anarchy by murdering at once, 
all who held the reins of government. It has shown the 
diabolical spirit of its great prototype and author — 

"Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven." 

Let then the foul spirit be effectually exorcised. Let it 
be banished forever from the country, which God has so 
wonderfully blessed, and so strangely chastised — banished 
forever, from the pale of christian civilization. And if it 
finds a resting place, any where, this side of the pit of 
endless darkness, let it be only with those barbarous 
tribes that have never heard the words of Jesus, 

" All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, 
do you even so to them." 



